December 30, 2013

Eagles, Packers Advance to Playoffs: The Philadelphia Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-22 to win the NFC East and advance to the NFL Playoffs. The Cowboys had the ball with a chance for a game-winning drive with 1:49 left, but backup quarterback Kyle Orton threw an interception to cornerback Brandon Boykin. For the third season in a row, Dallas finishes 8-8 and drops a deciding game 17 for the East crown. In another division battle, quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned from injury and led the Green Bay Packers to a 33-28 road win over the Chicago Bears to win the NFC North. Rodgers threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb on fourth-and-long for the go-ahead score with 46 seconds left.

The Eagles have enough weapons to make things interesting in the playoffs. Ending the on-going Dallas misery is something I'm thankful to them for.

Green Bay's win over Chicago was a mix of bad/crazy calls and plays, as well as Aaron Rodgers returning. Their offense is looking decent, but I don't see the defense being able to win against a foe the Packers can't outscore.

The only problem I have with the playoff picture is the Chargers getting in following their performance. They are one of the first teams I feel actually backed into the playoffs with a win.

The only problem I have with the playoff picture is the Chargers getting in following their performance. They are one of the first teams I feel actually backed into the playoffs with a win.

They did win their last 4 games of the season, so it's not like they fell into the playoffs by mistake. I agree their play wasn't spectacular last night, but almost every team in the NFL had a "I can't believe we won that one!" win on their resume this year.

I thought Dallas was going to win that one when Philly was kind enough to give them the ball back. Foles wasn't the same guy in the second half, but if the Eagles get first-half Foles they should send the Saints out of the playoffs.

The Chargers knocking off the Giants, Raiders, and the Chiefs AA affiliate doesn't really change my impression. Wins are wins, but that display yesterday, at home, in a must-win situation, was terrible. I only wish the Chiefs could have converted a simple (these days, especially in perfect conditions) 41-yard field goal and a much more dangerous Steelers team would have made it in.

The Chargers even lined up illegally on that field goal attempt, meaning Succup should have been given another shot at knocking SD out.

I agree, Grum. Miami is terrible, too. The majority of the AFC is flawed.

The Chargers actually played either up or down to their competition this season. They beat the better teams and lost to the worse teams. The thing is, they have talent. They just can't seem to get it together. Yesterday, with the majority of the Chiefs starters in street clothes though, was uncomfortable to watch. I'm sure any Charger fan would agree.

The Chargers actually played either up or down to their competition this season. They beat the better teams and lost to the worse teams. The thing is, they have talent. They just can't seem to get it together. Yesterday, with the majority of the Chiefs starters in street clothes though, was uncomfortable to watch. I'm sure any Charger fan would agree.

Yep. That's a decent summary of the Chargers season - they've beaten 3 playoff teams on the road (Chiefs, Broncos, Eagles), and have also taken down the Colts (for a 5-2 total record against playoff teams), but have also lost to the two teams with the worst records in football. Who knows which team will show up in the playoffs?

Dallas has a chance next year to be the first to go 8-8 in four consecutive seasons. Three teams have gone 8-8 for three. Green Bay from 1983-85, Houston/Tennessee from 1996-98 and Not-Too-Big, Not-Too-Small D.

While I'm happy as an Eagles' fan, I feel for Orton - thrown into a win-or-out game after a season in which he had few snaps with the first team. If I were a Cowboys' fan, I think I would have preferred getting blown out - much easier to accept than blowing a winning chance late. Might even have changed Jerry Jones's mind and made the fans happy by firing Jason Garrett.